Benedict immediately stepped in, removed the heavy tray, and helped his frightened daughter down from the presentation platform.
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Chapter 13 / 17
Chapter 13
Orla became obsessed with auctions at six.
Not trauma.
Numbers.
She liked bidding paddles.
Loved watching adults overpay for dessert packages.
At a school fundraiser she begged for a paddle.
I hesitated.
Then realized I was turning one bad memory into a prohibition she had not requested.
“Fine.”
She bid thirty dollars on a basket of books.
I had authorized twenty.
She looked at me innocently.
“We rich.”
Terrible child.
We won the books.
On the way home I said:
“You pay ten from your allowance.”
Outrage.
Good.
Auction meant ordinary consequence now.
May you like
Not humiliation.
Better than avoiding the word forever.
